Wednesday, July 20, 2011

The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations has joined hands with others in the medical profession in calling for the release of Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jeyakumar.

The federation, which represents some 5,000 private doctors nationwide, expressed concern with the detention of Jeyakumar, who they said has been recognised and acknowledged as “a law-abiding, competent, kind and diligent doctor.”

"His public service record is exemplary and, to the very best of our knowledge, he is certainly not a threat to our society," said the group in an open letter to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today.

Jeyakumar and five other PSM members are currently being held for alleged involvement with the outlawed Bersih 2.0 rally for electoral reforms which took place on July 9.

After an earlier accusation that the PSM activists were suspected of 'waging war against the Agong', the 'PSM 6' - as they have been dubbed - were detained under Section 3(1) of the under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) for allegedly threatening public order.

Both the EO and ISA provide for detention without trial.

The federation, however, described Jeyakumar, as well-known for his charity and kindness for all those under his care, regardless of ethnicity and religion.

They also cited Jeyakumar's long tenure in government service and charitable work as "selflessly serving the rakyat".

"We, appeal to have the detention order against Dr Michael Jeyakumar lifted," they said.

They also appealed for the release of the other PSM members in detention under similar circumstances.

The letter comes on the heels of a similar call by 176 medical practitioners from the Perak branch of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and the Perak Medical Practitioners Society who had demanded the release of the PSM activists.

The doctors said they were troubled by the prolonged and "illegal" detention and the deterioration of Jeyakumar's health under detention.

Signing on behalf of the federation was its president Dr Steven KW Chow. Included within federation are the private medical societies of Kedah/Perlis, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Pahang and Sarawak.

Other than Jeyakumar's sterling professional record and history of care for his patients and the rakyat in general, the federation also recounted his unblighted track record as a member of parliament and man of integrity.

“Yang Berhormat Dato' Seri (Hishammuddin), it is with trepidation that we, as fellow doctors are writing to vouch for Dr Michael Jeyakumar's loyalty to the nation, a true doctor dedicated to the welfare of his patients and an honorable member of parliament.

“Indeed it would be a great loss to the nation to deny him his freedom and to deprive the country of his services and the thousands of patients that so desperately need his care and expertise as their doctor and chest physician,” said the federation.